Further Yamaha entries come from Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha YZF team) and Jiri Drazdak (Yamaha Junior Pro SBK team), while Suzuki’s 2007 participation also includes talented young German Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) and the reigning Superstock 1000 FIM Cup champion, Alessandro Polita (Celani Team Suzuki Italia).
But one major team missing is Foggy Racing, who have failed to find a replacement for outgoing sponsor/manufacturer Petronas and are now thought to be focussing on 2008. 2003 world champion Neil Hodgson will also be absent, despite stating his clear intent to return to WSBK this year. Hodgson had been tipped to join forces with Carl Fogarty's outfit, should a sponsor have been found.
Famous Italian factory MV Agusta were also mentioned in connection with the project, and will still be present in 2007 with Austrian Christian Zaiser from the LBR team having the honour of becoming the first full-time MV Agusta WSBK entry, although he will be running in a one-man privateer team.
In the World Supersport championship, an equally close season is predicted, despite Sebastien Charpentier making history last year by becoming the only man ever to retain the title. The Frenchman's Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate
Kenan Sofuoglu has been in superb form during testing, while Yamaha R6 competitors Kevin Curtain - who lost the title to Charpentier at the very final round - and Broc Parkes are again looking capable of taking the crown.
A whopping 36 riders will compete in this class this year, and adding to the strength in depth, the GIL Kawasaki team will field former champion Fabien Foret and Pere Riba, while the Lightspeed Kawasaki squad from Italy will run rookie Davide Giugliano.
Gianluca Nannelli will surely doubt ride the best-placed Ducati in the opening two rounds, while Suzuki can count on Barry Veneman and Vesa Kallio from the Hoegee Suzuki team.
A mere eight days after this Saturday's race, WSBK will head to Australia for round two at Phillip Island.
